New Pop-up eletric Brakes?

[ironndn396]

I am currently shopping for my first pop-up.  I am looking for a very small basic pop-up around 1500 lbs or smaller. My question is should I buy one with electric brakes or not?  Does anti-lock brakes have any thing to do with it?  I am not worried about regular stops or braking, just emergency stops.  My towing vehicle is a 1997 Chevy Lumina with a 3.1 V6 (the car not the van).  Any replys would be appreciated.

[PopupSgt]

I am currently shopping for my first pop-up.  I am looking for a very small basic pop-up around 1500 lbs or smaller. My question is should I buy one with electric brakes or not?  Does anti-lock brakes have any thing to do with it?  I am not worried about regular stops or braking, just emergency stops.  My towing vehicle is a 1997 Chevy Lumina with a 3.1 V6 (the car not the van).  Any replys would be appreciated.

I would absolutely recommend electric brakes for the safety of towing and stopping of the camper.  Even though the camper is 1500 #'s the weight rises when you put your goods inside, haul with water, or even haul bikes.  The brakes on your van are designed to stop your vehicle with the occupants inside but not the additional weight behind it.  I've been in a situation where my popup's brakes failed and pushed my vehicle through an intersection, always side on the cautious side and get the brakes.   [/b]

[brainpause]

I agree...get brakes if possible. Many of the smaller Colemans in the past several years have brakes as standard. However, 1500# is a fairly small PU. Ours is about that weight, and I have REALLY wanted to add brakes, but it would require an axle change. It would be an easy mod, since I added brakes to my ATV trailer (easy, no axle change), and wired the truck. However, an axle change might make my trailer "taller", which is no good, because then I cannot raise it in the garage.

Anyway, if there is any way possible, you should look at trailers with brakes. I love my ATV trailer with brakes (big and heavy), and wish I had them (especially after an emergency stop last year).

Larry

[TheViking]

If you're pulling a PU with a Lumina I would for sure have brakes on a trailer. Correct me if I'm wrong guys but doesn't Jayco PU's come with surge brakes? I know some of the older one's do.  I like electric better than surge, but you can eliminate the cost and hassle of wiring electric brakes (I doubt a Lumina is pre-wired) if you go with surge, and still have the safety of stopping. Just my opinion.

[hoppy]

Many of the smaller Colemans in the past several years have brakes as standard. Larry

 I agree. Starting with the model year 2001, every model Coleman / Fleetwood PU's (even the smallest model Taos....GVW 1,750) came with electric brakes as standard equipment according to their sales brochure.

 As a foot note, check with your state law if it's mandortory that ALL ( or pound limitations) trailers be equipped with brakes. This may make your decission a moot point. But I would highly recommend having some kind of braking system on any size trailer. JMHO.

[PopupSgt]

If you're pulling a PU with a Lumina I would for sure have brakes on a trailer. Correct me if I'm wrong guys but doesn't Jayco PU's come with surge brakes? I know some of the older one's do.  I like electric better than surge, but you can eliminate the cost and hassle of wiring electric brakes (I doubt a Lumina is pre-wired) if you go with surge, and still have the safety of stopping. Just my opinion.

The rumors that I heard is that starting with the 2005 models Jayco quite putting surge brakes on their campers.  I know that many people love the surge brakes, I for one would never own them again, we endured a lot of problems with this system.  But maybe the non-surge brakes were for their TT's.

[TheViking]

Also keep in mind that with Surge brakes you cannot use a Sway control.  Which I would also highly recommend.